Littleton Horse Camp is located 4.4 miles west of Fairholm in Olympic National Forest. The facility serves as both a campground and trailhead for Mt. Muller Trail, with sites designed for equestrian use. Non-equestrian campers can use unoccupied sites after 6:00 PM. Campgrounds in this area typically fill quickly during summer months, but dispersed camping options exist on nearby forest service roads.
What to do
Explore tidal areas: At Salt Creek Recreation Area, visitors can access tide pools during low tide. Kier S. notes, "There are several ways to access a beach and tide pools during low tide!"
Hike to waterfalls: Collins Campground offers access to nearby waterfall trails. Asia M. shares, "There is a hike with a trailhead 2 miles from the campsite. We walked there and it was a milder way walk uphill to the trail head and then the .8 mile hike heads to a pretty waterfall which you can walk behind."
Beach combing: Salt Creek Recreation Area has varied coastal terrain for exploration. Colleen T. describes the experience: "The sunshine, blue skies, view to Vancouver Island, rocky coastline, sandy beach, tidepools, rush of the waves, sightings of whales, dolphins, otters, bald eagles, raccoons, cruise ships and freighters are hard to leave behind!"
Trail riding: For equestrians, Littleton Horse Camp serves as a strategic base. Spencer J. notes it's "perfectly fine" as a backup option when other campgrounds are full, mentioning they "had a walk in spot maybe a minute from the main parking lot."
What campers like
River access: At Collins Campground, most sites border the Duckabash River. Lawrence F. explains, "Sites are spacious though they are grouped in such a way that 2-3 sites are open to each other. Would make for a great place for groups with multiple tents. All sites except two have river or stream access."
Privacy between sites: Campers appreciate the separation between sites at several area campgrounds. At Lyre River State Forest, Emily U. noted, "Much more privacy and trees, plus it's free with Discover Pass ($5/day or $30/year)!"
Wildlife viewing: The Olympic Peninsula offers abundant wildlife sightings from various campgrounds. At Salt Creek Recreation Area, Brandon J. explains: "Depending on your campsite this place has incredible view but also offers plenty of trails and access to viewpoints and tidal areas."
Secluded forest settings: Campbell Tree Grove Campground offers deep forest camping. One camper described it as "Very secluded, deep wood camping. About an hour on unpaved road until you get to the actual camp but the drive is gorgeous! Old growth and new baby trees line the roads."
What you should know
Discovery Pass requirements: Several campgrounds require Washington State Discovery Passes. At Lyre River, Abby K. warns, "Discover pass is needed and they are adamant about checking for them. Not a lot of cell service great for some piece and quiet!"
Road conditions: Access to some campgrounds requires navigating rough roads. About Campbell Tree Grove, Jess G. cautions, "The only con to this site is the road in is incredibly bumpy, we actually popped a tire on the way in."
Limited amenities: Most forest service campgrounds have basic facilities. At Dungeness Recreation Area, Alex S. notes: "The campsites do not have electricity, water or sewer but on the other hand are rather inexpensive ($26 a night). There is a dumpsite on the way out of the park convenient for RVers who dry camped."
Wildlife precautions: The area has active wildlife. At Campbell Tree Grove, a visitor reported, "We drove past 3 piles of bear scat along the dirt road into the campground, which was fine. Our dog growled into the woods a couple of times while on some nature walk."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Dungeness Recreation Area offers family-friendly facilities. Charlotte H. shares, "A family campground with cheap and clean showers (50 cents/2 minutes), great play area, not a bad amount of mosquitoes for location, and quiet unlike many state park campgrounds."
Educational opportunities: Salt Creek Recreation Area provides learning experiences. Shina W. enjoyed "the playground, tide pools and private site number 51. Always a great spot."
Accessibility considerations: For families with different mobility needs, consider campgrounds with varied terrain options. At Salt Creek, Tracy J. explains there are "Very clean and well kept up with showers (warm, not hot) trails, tide pool and beach access."
Safety planning: When camping with children in remote areas, have contingency plans. About Lyre River State Forest, Brant T. advises: "Stayed here in the busy season, when we couldn't find space at any of the bigger more popular campgrounds, and there was no fee! It was nice and clean, quiet, and right next to a pretty stream."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Most campgrounds in the Olympic Forest have limited or no hookups. At Sadie Creek Campground, Shari G. explains, "Campsites we're pretty packed together, with picnic tables and fire rings... There is a vault toilet and a fresh water tap."
Size limitations: Many forest service roads have clearance issues for larger rigs. Consider size restrictions when planning. Asia M. notes about Collins Campground: "Disclaimer: the road from highway 101 to the campground has SO MANY potholes. Big ones that we had to navigate in our RV but nothing that made it too hard to access the campground."
Dump stations: Plan your water and waste management. Alex S. notes about Dungeness: "There is a dumpsite on the way out of the park convenient for RVers who dry camped."
Off-season accessibility: For equestrian camping near Sol Duc Hot Springs, Washington, seasonal closure information is crucial. SIMPLEGRINN A. shared about Campbell Tree Grove: "LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN IT OPENS IN APRIL OF 2020. THERE ARE ONLY 6 CAMPSITES NOT 21! VERY SECLUDED AND ROAD IN IS VERY ROUGH AND ALOT OF TREE'S DOWN ACROSS ROAD."
Ranger
